Kate’s official residence with Prince William and his children, Kensington is much easier to visit because it is open all year round.
While the Internet goes wild with speculation about Kate Middleton’s whereabouts, one thing is clear: her official residence with Prince William is Kensington Palace, London. Unlike Buckingham Palace, residence of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, which only receives tourists during the European summer between July and September, Kensington It is much easier to visit because it is open all year round.
It’s worth mentioning that William and Kate actually actually live there Adelaide Cottagea four bedroom house located on the same plot as the Windsor Castleless than 40 kilometers from London. According to some rumours, the couple’s idea is to try to make their children George, Charlotte and Louis live a life closer to “normal” – not to mention that they study at Lambrook School, which is about fifteen minutes away by car. But Adelaide Cottage it cannot be visited, while the Kensington Palace, YES. So let’s get to the point.
The property has been used by the British royal family since the 17th century and, although it has never been the official seat of the court, it has been the favorite residence of numerous monarchs throughout history. One such prominent figure was Queen Victoria, who was born and lived there until she ascended the throne and moved to Buckingham Palace.
Kensington It became the official residence of the heirs to the throne only in 1992, on the occasion of the wedding of the then Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Since then, the location has been the official address of the holders of the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales, who are currently Prince William and Kate Middleton. Here’s what to expect from your visit:
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Palace gardens
During disembarkation at the stations Queensway OR High Street Kensington from the subway – o tube, as they call it there, it only takes a few minutes on foot to enter the Kensington Palace Gardens, transformed into a large public park. It was surreal for me to see Londoners walking their dogs and doing running training in the same green space where Henry VIII chased deer during his hunts. Before or after visiting the palace itself, it’s worth taking the time to wander around the Edwardian-style gardens, adorned with flowers and ornamental ponds, which are free to enter.
The highlight goes to Cradlewalk, a kind of tunnel covered in vines, and the Sunken Garden, particularly loved by Princess Diana and transformed into a memorial in her honor. In 2017, on the 20th anniversary of her death, the garden was replanted with white flowers. In 2021, when she would have been 60 if she were alive, a sculpture of Diana was installed. The work, commissioned by Princes William and Harry, represents the princess surrounded by three children, in memory of her ability to connect with people, especially the youngest ones.
Apartments of the King and Queen
After presenting your tickets and entering the Kensington Palace, the first thing you see is the King’s Staircase. The walls around it were painted in 1726 by William Kent, who portrayed the royals who lived and worked at the court of King George I. An interesting fact is that the painter portrayed himself on the ceiling, as well as his wife and actress Elizabeth Butler. Kent’s inspiration came from the buildings he had seen in Rome, where he had studied.
The King’s Staircase leads to the King’s Apartments. The route begins through a long corridor, called the Kings Gallery, where the most important paintings from the palace collection are exhibited. Among these, a portrait by Van Dyck of King Charles I on horseback. The route leads to the room where the monarch received visitors, sitting on his throne, and continues through other rooms used by him, most decorated by William Kent at the request of King George I.
The Queen’s apartments have a more intimate character and reveal what royal life must have been like on a daily basis. In this part of the exhibition, the focus is no longer on King George I (who lived between 1660 and 1727): we go back in time a little, to the reigns of William III (1650-1702) and Mary II (1662- 1694). ). The visit passes through the rooms where Maria walked, sewed, read, dressed, dined alone with her husband and also where she slept: the Queen’s bedroom is one of the highlights of the tour.
Exhibition on Queen Victoria’s childhood
Going down another staircase begins one of the parts that most attracted me during the visit to the palace, the exhibition on Queen Victoria’s childhood. When he was born in Kensington In 1819, Vitória was not a direct descendant of the throne: she occupied fifth place in the line of succession. But when she was just 11 years old it became presumed that she would inherit the crown of her uncle William IV, since her father and other uncles had already died without leaving legitimate heirs.
One imagines that this fact made her mother particularly protective and that is why Vitória had a melancholy and lonely childhood in Kensington Palace until she was crowned when she turned 18, in 1837, and moved to Buckingham Palace.
Created to mark the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, the exhibition covers spaces such as the room in which she was born, the room that served as a games room and the room that hosted her 17th birthday ball.
Some special objects that were part of his childhood are on display, such as charming dollhouses, diaries in which he recounted his visits to the theater and ballet and even a kind of music box, but large in size, which imitates a stage. and she has little dolls powered by gears.
The visit to Kensington Palace ends in the jewel room that belonged to Queen Victoria. One of these is the set consisting of tiara, necklace, earrings and brooch, all studded with emeralds, designed by her husband Albert. Also noteworthy is the Kokoshnik tiara, which you may have seen a few times on the head of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Temporary exhibitions
OR Kensington Palace It also tends to get very good temporary shows. When I was there, there were very intimate photos on display, many of them never before seen, of the British Royal Family. The oldest date back to the 19th century and depicted the young Queen Victoria in compositions that still followed the patterns of painted portraits. In one of them she appears without a face. The reason? The monarch would have been dissatisfied with her appearance—who isn’t? -and he deleted her face from the photo.
The exhibition is open until October 2024 Unspeakable lives, about the people who worked in the royal palaces more than 300 years ago.
Souvenir shop
London Overall I was surprised by the quality of the souvenir shops at the exits of the attractions. To the Kensington Palace It was no different: even without having children, I went crazy with pajamas printed with taxis, telephone booths, crowns and other icons associated with the English capital. And what can we say about the costumes of the British Guard?
“And William and Kate’s room?”
Don’t expect to see William and Kate’s bedroom or George, Charlotte and Louis’ playroom during your visit to the Kensington. For obvious security and privacy reasons, the rooms currently used by the royal family are located in a completely private and separate part of the palace. The entry and exit of the princes and princesses also takes place through another door, different from the one we, simple commoners, use.
Service
Where? We Kensington Gardens. The nearest metro station, 700 meters away, is Queensway. It is also close to the station High Street Kensington750 meters.
When? From Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00).
How much? £24 for adults and £12 for children and teenagers under 16. Purchase via the website.
Tip: Tickets include an audio guide available in nine languages, including Portuguese, with information on all the rooms and the main pieces on display. The device can be removed upon entry. Kensington There is also a daily 15-minute chat, in English, with an employee who specializes in the history of the building. It can take place at 11.30am, 1.30pm or 3.30pm in the King’s and Queen’s Apartments or at 12.30pm or 2.30pm in the Queen Victoria Exhibition (ask for the day’s programme).
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
